Sylvia Massy: Mixing Masterclass in a Mic Museum

Sylvia Massy has worked with Tool, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, System of a Down, and so many more.
After this live premiere concludes, check out the live Q&A with Sylvia here or on replay: kzbin.infounfP1PQnB9s?...
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Big thanks to Jason Isbell for allowing us to feature his song, "Turn the Page". Find him here: / @jasonisbellmusic
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[@SonicScoop]

After this live premiere concludes, check out the live Q&A with Sylvia here or on replay: kzbin.infounfP1PQnB9s?feature=share Big thanks to Soundtoys for making this free to the public. Check out anything they make for free for 30 days at soundtoys.com Enter to win more than $10k in free gear at the MixCon Mega Giveaway: mix-con.com Big thanks to Jason Isbell for allowing us to feature his song, "Turn the Page". Find him here: www.youtube.com/@jasonisbellmusic

[@mikehunt576]

but where is the pooosay man?

[@jemwand2530]

Sylvia gives away little tips which other mixers always seem to overlook. Bless her for her passion, as much as a creative but also for her skills as a teacher.

[@alexanderewing3779]

Sylvia's enthusiasm is infectious. Cool lady. Lots of udeful tips.🎉

[@alexanderewing3779]

Oops! I'm udeless!

[@DarkTrapStudio]

Silvya is the most legendary Engineer of all time !

[@SonicScoop]

She is a true great! Very excited for this one. -Justin

[@thejawshop-AdventureRecording]

A perfect balance of explanation and inspiration. I blame Sylvia for getting me into Adventure Recording, now my life is engulfed by it and no going back.

[@kuriousoranj]

Loving the way Sylvia smacks that space bar ❤❤

[@LokoTheChannel]

I love this woman. After decades working in music, she remains fresh and creative. That's true love and passion for music. Sylvia is a great inspiration. Thank you!

[@chadfayrobinson7537]

I have always loved her energy I bet recording with her would be so inspiring !!!

[@ramencurry6672]

There should be a movie about her

[@miquelmarti6537]

Incredibly greatful for this open masterclass. I love her work and her book is super original, very recommended. PS: I'm surprised she's able to use that mouse. That's a tendinitis machine to me.

[@Studio22mix]

Enjoyed this one, Sylvia is amazing as always. Love the mic museum also 👌🏼

[@cari0021]

this was incredible, thanks for posting and of course thanks to the legend Silvia Massy for doing it and being so cool

[@peterheinen6110]

Thanks to Sylvia indeed!! As a 100% itb mixer/mastering guy i was stunned by the amount of plugins that are in my collection, waiting for good and trained use in the future! Greetz from a leftie (part time drummer)

[@meshica7]

Her mix environment is so classy and drips with a vintage aesthetic (like her mixes). None of that USS Starship Enterprise, LED laden, hyper clinical-futuristic sanitized vibe. Love how she integrated the equipment into old/vintage furniture. Gives off a Victorian vibe without getting into the overused steampunk trope. I know, to each their own, but this gives off such a cool vibe that I don't know how one could not be inspired.

[@astrarivm]

Thank you so much! Waiting this every year

[@komet1536]

So many good tips, insights and view for overall mixing process, many thanks!

[@nickwisse8762]

Thanks for putting this on!

[@SonicScoop]

Thanks for being here!!

[@Filipmarinchev72]

Just amazing !!! Silvia Massy is a genius !!!

[@mjk5254]

I love that she highlights summing the guitars. Huge time saver

[@josuastangl7140]

45:38 😂love it, what a great Masterclass!

[@tonye9045]

Fantastic, thanks very much.

[@rowenberrou1084]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this

[@TimOost]

Awesome! Thank You!

[@MariJu1ce]

Wow jason isbell! didnt expect that! love him =)

[@marcdanielnelson317]

A Wonderful episode!

[@InnerHacking]

So nice of her giving importance to her assistant first.

[@paullucas4846]

Sylvia is awesome, love her

[@shilohpatten3761]

Thanks. Was great!

[@theAxehound]

Its like a magician revealing how the tricks are done!

[@MELOPSMUSIC]

Awesome Sylvia 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@ZangalangaTube]

Gracias!

[@diegooliveirabenjamin]

Oh my god, Massy and Isbell together, that’s dream!!!!

[@Mr_Kri]

Massy mixing! Let's goooo! 🔥

[@bapisynthesizer2229]

NICE 👍🏾👍🏾vdo Thanks. Sylvia Massi🙏

[@kMaxRx]

The amount of production learning I've gained as a result of finding this video three weeks ago and subsequently the SonicScoop podcast is more than everything I've learned from LinkedIn Learning's masterclasses.

[@joaoantoniovione484]

20:00 gee. she made those hi-hats sound like a 20" pair. love to see her insights. cheers from Brazil!

[@XBludclahtX]

Her work on Undertow was amazing. Especially the mixing. I played that album through two 12 inch subs and the bass is amazing. And it goes beyond just the difference between Justin and Paul playing. Sylvia really captured the low end beautifully.

[@SonicScoop]

100%. That record introduced me to a totally new way that records could sound. And as influential as it’s been, it still sounds unique! -Justin

[@mikehunt576]

amateur video, guitarists especially add up multiple tones when using the same things on all tracks instead of only a sum, then only a sum if its what they want., botch sucked the wrong c0ks if she learned anything from all those engineers she assisted

[@SonicScoop]

And the official “worst comment on the video” award goes to @mikehunt576 ! Congrats 🎉

[@mikehunt576]

@@SonicScoop yup, what would you like for your prize? WAVES Kracked?

[@XBludclahtX]

@@mikehunt576 you using the word Kracked is pure irony. Please go on… 😆

[@DJScatox]

now I was seriously shocked at the old mic part😳

[@goingglobalmusicgroup2555]

I see the Focusrite ISA 1 in the back. I own one of those and it's a gem in the recording process for sure.

[@1loveMusic2003]

Love those Neve console sections she has!

[@antoniostramaglia1316]

thanks @ Lot.

[@karlosdanklou8095]

Amazing video🎉🎉🎉

[@xmun2450]

Interesting what she calls her 'Sidechain' would normally be considered as a "Parallel" that might be confusing for some people

[@SonicScoop]

This is not the first time this comment has been written here 😆 Hopefully it will be good for the algorithm! -Justin

[@crawlingman7003]

Yeah, I was going to ask about that. Thank you.

[@RJEnriquez]

Love Sylvia❤!

[@davidmorganmusicshed8946]

I love Sylvia!

[@hezekiahcharles6754]

THE GORGEOUS SYLVIA MASSY...LENGENDARY ENGINEER... AMAZING....

[@freda.dubeau8855]

sylvia is great!!

[@carlos-ni4hn]

What a great video Justin, will Jason Goldenberg be in the nwxt mix con ?

[@SyeSound]

Sorry but its parallel compression, not side chain... But Im still in love with Sylvia!

[@SonicScoop]

I’m not going to correct the great Sylvia Massy! But yes, more people would refer to that as “parallel compression”. Conventionally, “side chain” refers to a slightly different concept. That said, it makes intuitive sense to refer to a parallel bus as a “side chain” as it’s an effects chain that’s “off to the side” (aka “in parallel”) relative to the main channel. More conventionally, a “side chain” refers to a side *input* on a compressor or the like, which triggers the compressor’s detector circuit, but without being processed itself. That said, I can easily imagine a world where the convention was to call a parallel bus a “sidechain bus”. It also makes linguistic sense! Ultimately, Sylvia is a creative person and used terminology that makes good intuitive and linguistic sense, and we all kind of know what she meant in context. As pedantic as I can be, I’m not so pedantic as to want to “correct” her on it. That said, if anyone else was confused by her less conventional use of terms there, I hope this comment proves useful! Very best, Justin

[@nightowlrecordingstudio6437]

Love Sylvia, thanks for the video. When Sylvia refers to side chaining the kick and snare, does she mean parallel compression?

[@SonicScoop]

Yes! It seems so. She uses the term a little differently than the norm. -Justin

[@nightowlrecordingstudio6437]

@@SonicScoop Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Loved the video, always enjoy Sylvia’s approach and vibe

[@thomassus4444]

Sylvia makes it look so easy and fun, and the mix sounds awesome. A lifetime of work behind it, though. Thank you!

[@noisemodule]

so bummed, I missed the live feed by two hours... I would love to pick Master Massy's brain! 😭

[@SonicScoop]

Go to mix-con.com and Ravi there so you don’t miss any more live premieres! -Justin

[@Steaminlidz]

“Possibly best known for his work with Drive-By Truckers….”?? I think you’ve missed a meeting. Isbell has won four Grammy Awards on his own and is FAR better known as a solo artist.

[@SonicScoop]

Interesting. I think you’re right! I was going by my own (admittedly behind-the-times 41-year-old) pop culture assumptions, as well by hastily-Googled Facebook numbers. (…Also because I’m old :-) But, if you look at current Spotify listens, Jason now does have more monthly streams than the Truckers as a solo artist, (700k vs 600k) plus even more still if you look him up with his new band! (1.1M!) …and he’s much more popular on the “newer” social media platforms I’m allergic to, like Instagram. So… you’re right! If I could reshoot that part of the intro I would. I could have done better. Many congrats to Jason on his incredible growth and success as a solo artist!! My knowledge of the genre has clearly been frozen in amber. My only defense is that I’m old and out of touch, but I should still know better. It’s my job to. I apologize for the failing on that! Very fair point! Thanks for raising it. -Justin

[@zachmacrockproductionsinc.9902]

TOOL and Seigmen

[@AKASHPMP]

What plugins are there on the drums subgroup?

[@MoveTrueRecords_]

Yooo i like her brooo. FIREEEE Video

[@jensoettrich762]

Is the bass still mono compatible if you add wideness?

[@masterastakhovsound]

Hi everyone ❤

[@coldpunchmusic]

she's the best

[@triple-h-73]

❤

[@jas_bataille]

I don't even know how it's possible for anyone to know a tom hit buy looking at a wave form, and the quality of it, and the degree of editing. Like... how do you only *look* at a waveform and get all this information? Wizardry

[@coastaltone9252]

Can anyone explain what’s happening with the kick/snare spank side chaining buss? Are they side chained to each other? What are they side chained to

[@SonicScoop]

It’s a parallel compression bus that’s “off to the side” of the main bus. A “chain” that runs to the “side” of the main bus. Parallel compression by a different name in this case :-) -Justin

[@SoBeit777]

What are the Kick and Snare side-chained to?? I dont get how thats working as opposed to just bus compression on the kick+snare

[@SonicScoop]

She is using an unconventional term for what many would call parallel compression. -Justin

[@SoBeit777]

OH! That makes much more sense Thank you@@SonicScoop

[@LipazMusic]

I really like that she wears Adidas Performance instead of Originals, just like myself. :) Classy!

[@jeremythornton433]

How is Sylvia getting the side chain to function? Is the comp used as a send, an insert or an aux? I'm not getting how she does this at all.

[@tonybrant]

she was talking about parallel compression when she said sidechain compression. Side-chain isn't even technically a verb, it is simply the input to the detector circuit on a compressor. It is a noun. You don't "side-chain" your drums... parallel compression, as demonstrated in this video, is achieved by blending the original signal with a compressed version, in this case via the use of an aux send/aux return configuration.

[@SonicScoop]

Yes, most people would refer to what she is doing as “parallel compression”. I can understand how “sidechain” makes intuitive sense though.

[@jas_bataille]

Why do I have a feeling the Thumper drums company will have some struggle keeping up with orders following this video :O

[@crowkangi]

sexiest producer ever!! not to mention she's a beast. the Tool "undertow" album is a triumph.

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

Sidechain compressed? By what?

[@SonicScoop]

She is using that term to refer to what a lot of people would call parallel compression. -Justin

[@0000song0000]

will this video remain up? or will it be hidden afterwards? to take better notes

[@deliciousaudio]

It will remain up!

[@user-op3hc2nk9o]

Does she call a parallel compression "side-chain" or do I misunderstand it? not being picky just want to clarify

[@SonicScoop]

Yes, most people would call it parallel compression. Sylvia does more than she teaches, so she might not be as particular about the terms. Still sounds good though! :-) Justin

[@shilohpatten3761]

I’m kind of overwhelming. Lol

[@WillyJunior]

Self-awareness is important I guess

[@WayneDawkinsThePartyMan]

Big difference switching the phase on the snare mics. Incredible how timeless sansamp is. All this goes to show once you know the sound you are after....Pick a useful plug.

[@PhatLvis]

Not side chain; rather, the parallel compression aux.

[@MCAlvesPortugal]

I don't own any soundtoys plugins because I Lok.🤮

[@uncleted3961]

Pro Tools is supposed to be the “industry standard” but it doesn’t even have a phase flip function. You have to use a plug-in to do it. So lame

[@SonicScoop]

TBF, it is an included stock plugin. -Justin

[@Fastvoice]

@@SonicScoop So it's on par with GarageBand at least in that regard (GB has a phase inverter in the stock "gain" plugin). 😉

[@SafuuProducer]

Very cool chick. The problem I have with this type of videos is the inability to tell whether she talks to you or sells shit to you. It’s the times we live in. I wonder if she really uses the plugins she keeps popping here 😢

[@SonicScoop]

This is a look at an actual mix she did for a real commercial release for a major artist. These are really the tools she used on it, and the exact settings. Hope that helps! -Justin

[@ChrisJohnson-pm9jf]

That was actually 100% real

[@bonafontciel]

@SonnicScoop Thank you!